“Remember those awful Microsoft ads with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates? Well, now you can forget them,” Owen Thomas reports for Valleywag.
“Microsoft flacks are desperately dialing reporters to spin them about ‘phase two’ of the ad campaign — a phase, due to be announced tomorrow, which will drop the aging comic altogether,” Thomas reports.
“Microsoft’s version of the story: Redmond had always planned to drop Seinfeld. The awkward reality: The ads only reminded us how out of touch with consumers Microsoft is,” Thomas reports.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention for the heads up.]
In Redmond, “phase two” must follow “number two.”
We can almost hear this pre-launch conversation:
See, we did the Burger King ads, so we know everything. So, what we’ll do is run a couple of indecipherable pieces of crap that are designed to drastically lower expectations.
Yeah, use Jerry as a decoy; pay him big money. Jerry loves cash even more than his Macs; he’ll do anything for it.
So, anyway, then, when it sucks, we “cancel” the whole thing, so when we start running the regular Windows Vista campaign ads, everyone will think the things are as effing brilliant as, uh, Apple’s ads. Or something like that. Whatever. Microsoft’s paying us dump trucks full of cash which means that, after this all blows over, we can buy even more Macs and iPhones for the agency!
Darn it! Anything that makes Microsoft the butt of a joke is okay in my book. Let em spend the money!
In MS’ world, anything that fails is due to lack of spending.
Hopefully they’ll spend at least $600 million on the next phase…
@Modbus
Yep, its why they can keep blowing wads of money on money losing product to corner and own a market. Make stupid ads and not worry about blowing their wads for zero results campaign. Its why they can compete in new markets till they outspend their competition….. good job DOJ. NOT!
Does Seinfeld get paid even if the ads are canceled?
Priceless!!
Damn, all of here are in the wrong business. All we need to do is:
1. Create random, idiotic, one-minute TV spots. Make sure no talent or real effort goes into the ads.
2. Unload the crap on MS for a few hundred million.
3. Enjoy the windfall while MS cancels the ads and gets nothing for their investment.
Brilliant!!
Hey, I was waiting for the next commercial…… 🙁
See, they are generating interest. And don’t they say in Hollywood, “Any headline is good, just spell my name right.”. ?????
I want to see at least 2 more. By then, they will either have a point, or they will be really shown to be loosers.
Just a thought.
en
@stuff
“I still use MS office on my mac.”
Your ignorance.
Not really any of our business.
Vista = Old Coke
Bill and Jerry ads = New Coke
“Phase Two” ads = Old Coke.
( Except both old and new Coke have some taste )
It figures. It was only getting worse. The first one was somewhat amusing, because it was so meaningless and unrelated to Microsoft. The second one (for which I saw two different edits) was just as pointless and not at all amusing. If there was a third one, no doubt it would have been worse.
So what’s “phase two”?
I’m guessing MS got too involved in the project like this perfect example:
CP+B is too good to have done this schlock.
“”I’m a Mac fan but I don’t get all this MS hate.”
Then you are four. Good lord.”
now be nice. he said he uses office. you have to be at least 6 for that……
The giant sucking sound from Redmond is getting louder and louder and those commercials didn’t help.
Wow, I have a feeling that this year’s worst commercials will have a new category leader. Is it just me, or has MS spent the most on advertising in its history for the most forgettable campaigns? There was the “wow” campaign. And, the “where do you want to go today” campaign. And, now the “Jerry and Bill go on a date” campaign. What else was there?
You know, to be honest, I liked the first ad. The second one started out OK, but became so condescending that I was actually shocked.
CROW…It’s what’s for dinner in Redmond
Pity, I was so looking forward to the next episode and the comments here.
@stuff
I’m a Mac fan but I don’t get all this MS hate.
If you are a relative Mac newbie, you are forgiven for not understanding.
For so many years, there was so much Mac hate going around. Now that Microsoft is stumbling, the shoe is on the other foot, and some of us take some delight in beating on MS on their way down.
I’ve been a Mac user since 1984, when the original Macs debuted, and I confess a certain small delight in MS’s misfortune.
<“”I’m a Mac fan but I don’t get all this MS hate.”
Then you are four. Good lord.”
now be nice. he said he uses office. you have to be at least 6 for that……>
Good Lord, people be nice. Not all of us started using Macs in 1984, give us a break.
Do not get me wrong most of us rejoice on Microsoft’s fall all the time but there are MS product that are very very good like Excel in Office fo Windows (not the baby Excel in Office 08 – Mac version). Excel is the best product in the software industry by far. Like all things Microsoft its bloated, prone to crashing but its the best we have.
Pretty soon, the switchers will out-number the original Mac fans by tens of millions, so stop hating.
Let’s see, Seinfeld now collects $10,000,000, goes home, and continues working on his Mac. Now that’s funny!
I think the second ad was seeking to relate
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the reality of Windows Vista with the reality of reality TV.
check this out
http://www.gamerchip.com/microsoft-tv-ads-clone-wars-the-next-step/
Phase II:
Replace Bill and Jerry with PC and Mac from ‘Get A Mac’ ads.
Check into conflict of interest.
wonderful news!!! that’s at least 8 minutes of our lives that are now safe from redmond!!!! those commercials were a dangerous assault on intelligence
Phase I: Bill & Jerry Ads
Phase II: ???
Phase III: Profit!
Well personally I found the pretentious but ultimately substance less “Apple House” and depiction of Steve Jobs as a cranky granny quite funny.
Apple should hire Jerry for one commercial
I’m a Mac
I’m a pc
Hey there’s Jerry coming out of an Apple store (Jerry carrying an Imac)
Just get a new Mac Jerry?
Sure did, just came into some money.
(pc) This is so bad (walks away shaking head)